Partnerships

Partner with NCYDC

This work only happens with partners. Below are the practical roles organizations can take, whether you can offer space, instruction, jobs, funding, or people who show up for young people.

A young person cutting metal with a hand saw during a shop training session

Ways to partner

Programs are being prepared for 2027, with earlier opportunities offered when available. We are happy to begin with a single event, a pilot cohort, or simply a conversation about what your organization needs.

School districts and schools

Reach students who need a visible next step, with no added staff burden.

Student referrals into career exploration and workforce preparation cohorts
Hosting cohorts during school, after school, or in summer sessions
Access to space such as shops, labs, classrooms, or community rooms
Career exposure events, speakers, and hands-on demonstrations
Coordination of work-based learning so credit, scheduling, and supervision line up

Employers

Build a local pipeline for hard-to-fill roles and meet candidates early.

Job shadowing and site tours for age-eligible participants
Internships, paid work experience, and apprenticeship openings
Hiring from cohorts and providing feedback on candidate readiness
Guest speakers, mock interviews, and resume review sessions
Equipment, tools, and materials that make training realistic

Unions and training providers

Align early preparation with your program standards.

Pre-apprenticeship alignment so participants arrive prepared
Approved instructors for trades, safety, and credential instruction
Clear pathway mapping from exposure to application to placement
Exposure events that show young people what apprenticeship really involves

Funders and foundations

Support specific, trackable parts of program delivery.

Cohort sponsorship covering instruction and delivery
Student materials, personal protective equipment, and uniforms
Credential, testing, and certification costs
Transportation and meals where those barriers block participation
Equipment and training space build-out
Capacity building including staffing, data systems, and evaluation

Community organizations

Provide the supports that keep participants enrolled.

Mentoring volunteers and consistent adult relationships
Wraparound supports and referrals for families
Family resource navigation and community outreach
Shared space and co-hosted community events

For partners

What partners receive

Partnership runs both directions. Organizations that work with NCYDC gain a practical stake in the talent, data, and community outcomes the work produces.

A workforce pipeline: Connect with motivated young people prepared for in-demand careers, and help shape the skills employers actually need.
Visibility and branding: Recognition as a committed partner in youth success, and standing as a leader in workforce development.
Volunteer engagement: A meaningful way to involve your employees and teams beyond a one-time donation.
Grant collaboration: Partner with NCYDC on funding proposals that expand what both organizations can deliver.
Impact reporting: The data and participant outcomes connected to what you support.
A stake in North County: Contribute to economic growth, safer neighborhoods, and better prospects for local families.

Accountability

What we measure

These are the measures we are building our cohorts around. They describe how we will report on the work rather than results already achieved, and partners receive the data connected to what they support.

Enrollment: Participants enrolled by cohort, age band, and pathway.
Attendance and retention: Session attendance and completion of the cohort a participant starts.
Credential completion: Credentials attempted and earned where a credential is part of the pathway.
Work-based learning participation: Job shadows, site visits, internships, and paid work experience.
Employment and education transitions: Movement into employment, apprenticeship, training, or continued education.
Skill development: Pre and post assessment of career readiness and technical skill benchmarks.

Funding in action

Where support goes

Sponsorship and grant support go directly into the categories below. We build a specific budget with each funder based on cohort size, pathway, and length.

Instruction and training delivery: Qualified instructors, curriculum, and cohort facilitation.
Student materials and PPE: Tools, safety gear, scrubs, uniforms, and consumables.
Credential and testing costs: Exam fees, certification costs, and required background or health screenings.
Transportation and meals: Removing the everyday barriers that end participation early.
Equipment: Trade, healthcare, technology, and safety training equipment.
Program coordination: Case coordination, employer engagement, and family communication.
Capacity building: Data systems, evaluation, staff development, and administration.

NCYDC is a Missouri nonprofit organization. Please contact us directly to discuss the current status of our tax filings and the documentation your organization requires before making a contribution.

Start a partnership conversation

Tell us what your organization can offer or what you are trying to solve, and we will come back with a practical next step.

Contact NCYDC